Ink ribbon cartridge pack

Abstract

A protective pack for holding a cartridge for a daisy wheel type printer is disclosed. The cartridge has a supply spool for holding a fresh ribbon pancake and a take-up spool for holding used ribbon. The cartridge body has a viewport extending radially adjacent the ribbon pancake to allow observation thereof. The cartridge includes two arms which define a path for the ribbon to pass between the paper and the printer mechanism. Two drive gears are serially engaged with each other and with the ribbon drive means. When the first drive wheel is driven by a drive shaft of the printer, the second acts as an idler gear so that the direction of ribbon take-up is the same as the direction of the rotation of the drive shaft. When the second gear is driven, it drives the ribbon drive gear means directly so that the rotational direction of the ribbon take-up is opposite that of the drive shaft. The drive gears are located and their lower portions are configured to engage the respective drive shafts of various printers. The ribbon pack is an open shell having a cavity shaped to conform to the cartridge body. A shoulder projecting upward in the cavity inserts into the viewport when the cartridge is placed therein to prevent the ribbon pancake from telescoping during shipment.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A protective pack for packing a plurality of ribbon cartridges inside a carton, each of said cartridges including a body, a ribbon pancake mounted within the body, said body having a viewport extending radially adjacent the ribbon pancake to allow observation thereof, the protective pack comprising a shell defining a cavity having a shape substantially conforming to that of the cartridge and a shoulder projecting from the shell into the cavity, the shoulder having dimensions and being located so that it will project through the viewport and engage the ribbon pancake when the cartridge is placed in the pack. 
     
     
       2. A double protective pack for a pair of ribbon cartridges each of which includes a body, and a ribbon pancake mounted within the body, where said body has a viewport through one side thereof which extends radially along the ribbon pancake to allow observation thereof, the pack comprising a pair of shells, each shell having substantially the same dimensions and defining a cavity having a shape substantially conforming to that of the cartridge and each shell including a shoulder projecting into the cavity and disposed so that it will project through the viewport of the cartridge packed therein, the double pack being formed by placing the two shells adjacent one another so that the open faces of the cavities are closed by the opposing shell. 
     
     
       3. A protective pack, as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said pack is formed from a resilient plastic material. 
     
     
       4. A protective pack, as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said shell further includes a flange extending about its edge and shaped to conform to the interior of the carton. 
     
     
       5. A protective pack, as in claim 1 or 2, wherein said shell further includes a second shoulder projecting from the shell in a direction away from the cavity, said second shoulder having dimensions and being located so that it will engage an adjacent pack in the carton to provide a cushion there between. 
     
     
       6. A combination comprising a ribbon cartridge secured inside a protective pack, said ribbon cartridge including a cartridge body, a ribbon pancake mounted within the body, said body having a viewpoint extending radially adjacent the ribbon pancake to allow observation thereof, the protective back including a shell defining a cavity having a shape substantially conforming to that of the cartridge body and a shoulder projecting from the shell into the cavity, the combination being formed by inserting the cartridge into the pack in such a manner that the shoulder projects through the viewport and engages the ribbon pancake. 
     
     
       7. A carton of ribbon cartridges, said carton comprising a plurality of combinations as in claim 6 placed in the interior of a carton. 
     
     
       8. A carton as in claim 7, wherein the combinations are arranged alternately so that the open face of one protective pack always faces the open face of the adjacent protective pack.